Practically Green

Simple Steps to Preserve the Planet

In my efforts to be “green”, which you can read about here and here, I have adopted new ways of doing a lot of things over the years. It hasn’t always been easy. I’m as resistant as the next person when it comes to change. But I’m learning that once I make a change and it takes hold, it becomes easier to make the next one.

You must start by picking the low hanging fruit. Choose the easiest step to take and proceed from there. This applies to changes of all kinds, so feel free to adopt this mentality towards going vegan, getting fit, learning a new subject, etc. For me, the key is taking control and doing something—that always makes me feel good. It keeps life fluid and interesting.

If you want to incorporate more eco-friendly practices into your life, then you will want to follow this blog for the next few weeks. I plan to post about 30 eco-friendly steps that have become a habit for me. Of course this wasn’t always the case. I’m an example of how one can change. I hope that my story not only educates others but inspires at least one person to become more eco-friendly.

According to a United Nations report on Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production: Priority Products and Materials, “We must start looking into our everyday activities if we truly want a green economy—for developed and developing countries.“

Let’s start with the most common and easiest actions you can start today. In the coming weeks, the practical steps I offer may seem more challenging, but with a bit of effort, you can make them habits too.

Small yet Powerful Actions to Set You on the Path to Greener Living

1. Bring your own shopping bags. By now, you probably have more than enough reusable shopping bags on hand, so store them everywhere. Keep a small compactable one in your purse or backpack, and several larger bags in your car. This way you always have them available. The trickiest part about reusable bags is remembering them in the first place. Once it becomes a habit, this step is a no-brainer, especially if you live in an area where you have to pay for bags.
2. Carry a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go—no exceptions. Years ago the place where I worked provided bottled water to its employees. (Sadly, I was on the wellness committee that suggested this “improvement” of providing employees with bottled water in the late 90s.) But as I began to wake up to the issues, I realized that bottled water was wasteful (even if you recycle the bottle) and I could make one simple change, which would make a big difference. I stopped using the free bottled water at work and began using a reusable bottle and filling it with water from the drinking fountain. This reduced my impact on the planet by approximately 750 plastic bottles a year. Now multiply that by 1,000 employees from one company and you begin to see the big picture—750,000 bottles a year. On a more positive note, the company has since switched to filtered water to reduce its impact on the planet. You can also use a reusable coffee mug when picking up your morning coffee.
3. Let dishes air dry in the dishwasher. This is a new one for me, and admittedly, I don’t like it. I would like to empty the dishwasher when the cycle is done, not after I open the door and let the dishes dry, which inevitably takes several more hours! But if I do it long enough, I’m certain I will get used to it. Becoming an environmentalist requires the ability to make adjustments to your lifestyle even when it might be “inconvenient”.  Bonus: Run full loads only.
4. Use paper bags instead of plastic when scooping kitty litter. (My cats revolted against the kind you can flush, so I’m stuck with the clay litter.) No need to bury plastic bags full of kitty waste in landfills indefinitely though. At least by using paper bags, there is a possibility of it breaking down. You can purchase brown paper lunch bags for a couple of bucks and they do the job quite nicely. Also, remember to save any paper bags you collect when making a purchase.
5. Buy fruits and vegetables grown closer to home—at least on this continent. Obviously farmer’s markets are great for buying local produce but when you live in a colder climate they aren’t always an option. You can still avoid buying produce from the other side of the world. Consider the transportation impact of shipping produce from one side of the world to another. This step was a tough one for me initially. There is a week or two every year that I can’t find apples from anywhere but someplace far away like New Zealand. I had to accept that I would have to go without apples for a couple of weeks. On the bright side, it’s an opportunity to try a new fruit or vegetable that is grown closer to home at that time of year. It took some time to get in the habit of reading the labels to find out where the produce was grown, and in fact, sometimes the store signs are wrong. Once it becomes a habit, it’s a simple yet powerful principle to follow.
6. Print on both sides of the paper. Simply change your printer settings to print on both sides automatically, especially at the office where they typically have fancy printers. We have a laser printer at home that will allow us to do this manually. See if yours does too. There is also a toner-saving setting on laser printers that you can select to reduce the amount of toner used.
7. Choose your transportation wisely. Walk, ride a bike or take public transit before driving when possible. If you need to drive, slow down and keep a steady pace to conserve fuel. So, I’m not an expert at this but I’m learning not to punch the gas as soon as the light turns green. I’m a work in progress. Also, share a ride or carpool when it makes sense.
8. Use what you have. As I’ve gotten older, I have realized something that seems to be a critical life lesson: I usually have what I need, and if I don’t, it will show up soon. It’s not a concept I grew up with but it’s almost always true for me. If you don’t believe me, try living with this motto for a while and see what happens. Sometimes it might mean you have to get creative or forego something shiny and new for an older model, but there you go, you have what you need. Keep in mind there is a difference between what you need and what you want. Give it a try, see what happens. By living this way, I consume less.
9. Buy less stuff. We live in a consumer culture and most of us were raised to consume. It’s a hard habit to break but it’s worth it. The rewards are huge and include saving money and spending less time running errands (and driving around) on the weekends, which leaves more free time for fun. We live in a world full of abundances, but we don’t need all that is offered. In fact, after years of buying less, I encourage everyone to try out the “less is more” concept.
10. Get a library card. Use the library as your first option to read a book or magazine. Check to see if your library has a “hold” option, so that you can order the book online and when it is ready, the library will notify you that it’s available for pick-up. This efficient process sold me on using the library regularly. If you need to buy a copy, find it used or purchase an electronic copy, before buying it new. Books and magazines are also great for sharing. Try paperbackswap.com to trade with other bookworms.
11. When you do need something, buy it used. Frequent thrift stores, yard and estate sales, and check craigslist.com to purchase used goods before buying what you need new. Even better than buying something used, see if you can borrow what you need from your friends and neighbors, such as tools or rarely used items. Check to see if you live in a community with a tool-lending library. Bonus: Join freecycle.org to find things you need for free.
12. Fix things. Consider repairing things before replacing them. I don’t think of myself as Ms. Fix-It, but when I have fixed things in the past, I felt a sense of satisfaction. The projects I have tackled have been small, such as replacing the battery in an iPod. First I watched my husband do it, then I did one on my own. I have also repaired a blender. Even if you think you can’t do stuff like this, I encourage you to give it a try. You might surprise yourself.
13. Reuse and repurpose things. Recently I decided I needed a watering can for my garden. I figured I would find one at a yard sale soon enough, so I didn’t consider buying one at a store. Until then, I would use a pitcher from our kitchen. I had never mentioned this to my husband, but one day when I was about to recycle a kitty litter jug, he said:”You sure you don’t need this for anything else?
    I responded, I don’t think so.
    How about a watering jug for the garden, he asks.
    Brilliant! I need one of those.”

    You see, he thinks like an environmentalist, always trying to reuse something before recycling or throwing it away. I have yet to adopt this skill, but hopefully it will rub off on me over time.

14. Turn the thermostat down and set it on a timer. Believe it or not, our heat comes on in August and would run all day if we didn’t set the thermostat on a timer. Not only does this conserve energy, it saves us money. (You will find that the more “green” you become, the more green you will save.)
15. Avoid plastic bags in the produce section. I used to use plastic bags when buying produce. I would reuse the bags when I scooped the litter boxes. I don’t use plasic bags anymore, but I do wash the produce very well when I get home and store it in seal-tight containers to keep it fresh. This works even better than bags. You may need to stock up on containers for this purpose but it’s worth the investment.
16. Buy dry foods in bulk. If you shop at a market that offers bulk foods, then start stocking up on foods such as rice, beans, cereals and oatmeal, nutritional yeast, spices, etc. Skip the plastic bags though and bring containers or use paper bags from the store. I know people who are against buying bulk foods because they fear germs and contamination. I am not afraid of germs, so I shop in this section every time I go to the grocery. Most of the time you will save money and you will likely save on packaging that either needs to be recycled or will end up in a landfill.
17. Bring your own takeaway containers. When you eat out and want to bring leftovers home, consider bringing your own containers, especially if a restaurant uses Styrofoam. My husband and I created a “car kit”, which is a bag full of reusable containers, plates, coffee mugs, and utensils, so that we can eat on the go and bring leftovers home with less impact on the planet.
18. Stop using plastic storage bags. I prefer using containers because they are easier to clean and last longer. Almost anything that lasts longer is better.
19. Change your light bulbs. If you haven’t done this yet, then do it now. Today. It’s a ridiculously easy way to conserve energy. We recently moved to Berkeley, CA. I found a service where a couple of college kids come out to your home and complete an energy assessment. Not only do they offer you ideas for ways to reduce your home energy consumption, they replaced every light bulb in the house with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). This saved us quite a bit of money, since the house includes many built in light fixtures that had incandescent light bulbs. If you happen to live in the East Bay, I recommend this service, or check in your area for a similar one.
20. Grow your own food. Start a small garden. You can use containers, your front lawn (scrap the grass!), or join a community garden. The options are endless these days. Think how proud you will be to eat food you grew with your own two hands. Every time I look at my spinach sprouting and growing a little more each day, my heart swells with pride.
21. Wash clothes in cold water. You will save energy by not heating the water. I switched to using all cold water a few years ago and my clothes still get clean. Remember, no step is too small.
22. A toaster oven uses less energy than a conventional oven. So does a microwave. On that note, you will use less energy to heat food and water in the microwave than on the stovetop. It’s all about reducing our consumption of just about everything.
23. Let food cool before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. If you pop a hot dish into your refrigerator or freezer, the unit will need to work harder to keep it at the set temperature. So let your food cool on the counter before you store it and you’ll keep the temperature consistent inside the unit which helps control the amount of energy used.
24. Change your showerhead. Changing your shower head to a low-flow version will save you hundreds of gallons of water a year. It may take some time to get used to a less powerful spray, but you will get used to the change in time. I did.
25. Pick up trash. When you’re out and about, pick up litter when you see it. Since I started hiking in the park nearby, I occasionally see trash on the trails. I have begun the habit of picking it up because I want to keep the park clean. You may think, “Well, I didn’t throw that Fritos bag on the ground, so it’s not my job.” Here’s the thing. I know you didn’t and I didn’t leave the bag of dog poop under the tree either. I don’t even have a dog. But if I don’t do it, who will? Just like anything else, when you take responsibility for something (like wanting to make the world a better place), then watch how your thoughts and actions change to match your intention. Also, according to author Malcom Gladwell of The Tipping Point, there is evidence that when people are vigilant about keeping an area or building clean that has a history of trash, graffiti or vandalism, eventually the good guys win. Choose an area beyond your front yard, such as your block or local park, and when you see trash or recyclables, pick them up.
26. Go vegan. The UN reported in 2010 that “Animal products and fossil fuels dominate contributions to global environmental problems.” Plant-based foods are a more sustainable option, especially whole fresh foods.
27. Use your voice. Educate yourself on an issue, such as clean water, oil production, or landfills, and become a voice for the environment. Whether you’re out there on the front lines at a demonstration against Chevron, an armchair activist writing letters to the editor, or somewhere in between, it’s important to remember that every action you take as an individual matters, because all of us together add up to a whole lot of people.
28. Bring your own lunch. When I was working in an office, I was astounded by the amount of garbage one company produced at lunch time alone, so I started bringing my own lunch. By packing a lunch, you will reduce your impact on the planet and likely your waist-line. I know I eat healthier when I make my own food in lieu of eating out.
29. Learn to live without air conditioning. This isn’t a simple step for some, me included. It’s ridiculously hard to live without air conditioning when you live in a hot and humid climate. I know. Read about it here. Fortunately, we moved to a cooler climate this year and I no longer “need” air conditioning. Perhaps you can reduce your use of air conditioning. Last summer I used it less than 10 times during Chicago’s very heated summer. My body began to adjust to the heat and air conditioning felt really cold.I’m still terrible at this. Recently my husband and I visited Boston. It was August and humid. There’s nothing like a little a/c to fight humidity as far as I’m concerned. As soon as we checked into our hotel room, my husband turned off the air conditioning and opened a window. I immediately started complaining that I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the heat and noise. On and on I went, knowing I would lose the battle, which I did. It’s almost as if I live on auto-pilot. After living with air conditioning for over 40 years, it’s a tough habit to break. My motto: Do the best you can.
30. Buy recycled products. Whenever you are buying something new, consider buying a recycled version such as toilet paper, copy paper, purses made from plastic bottles, etc. People are creative and making more and more products from recycling other products. It’s fun to see what these creative souls come up. Keep an eye out for more products like this.

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